Coating means for duplicating machine



Aug. 15, 1961 E. M. SPRINGER EI'AL 2,

COATING IIEANS FUR DUPLICATING IIACHINE Original Filed April 1. 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FRANCIS K. MOORE EDWARD M. SPRNGER Hana, QM ,BM

Aug. 15, 1961 E. M. SPRINGER ET AL 2,996,039

COATING MEANS'FOR DUPLICATING MACHINE Original Filed April 1. 1954 Sheets-Sheet 2 jzr zve'r/zz y FRANCES K.MOORE EDWARD M. SPRINGER Aug. 15, 1961 E. M. SPRINGER ETAL 2,

comma MEANS FOR DUPLICATING MACHINE riginal Filed April 1. 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Qwevz 07/; FRANCIS K. MOORE EDWARD M. SPRINGER Aug. 15, 1961 E. M. SPRINGER ETAL 2,996,039

COATING MEANS FOR DUPLICATING MACHINE Original Filed April 1. 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 2106757519 FRAucls K. MOORE EDWARD M. SPRINGER Aug. 15, 1961 E. M. SPRINGER ET AL 2,996,039

COATING MEANS FOR DUPLICATING MACHINE Original Filestl April 1. 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 fin/(yeah FRANCIS K. MOORE EDWARD M. SPRINGER y I 000a), BM

@wQ 'BW ameeyg United States Patent 2,996,039 COATING MEANS FOR DUPLICATING MACHINE Edward M. Springer and Francis K. Moore, Chicago, 111.,

assignors, by mesne assignments, to Heyer Inc., 'Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New York Original application Apr. 1, 1954, Ser. No. 420,232, now Patent No. 2,830,534, dated Apr. 15, 1958. Divided and this application May 21, 1957, Ser. No. 660,545.

6 Claims. (Cl. 118-260) This application is a division of our copending application Serial No. 420,232, filed April 1, 1954, now US. Patent No. 2,830,534, dated April 15, 1958, for Duplicating Machine.

The present invention relates to coating means for duplicating machines.

An object of the invention is to provide, in a machine of the class described, an improved liquid holding tank which is located in horizontal position adjacent the top of the machine for easy access in filling but within the confines of the machine frame and which tank provides for ready visual inspection for determining the quantity of fluid therein and is provided with means'for supplying fluid as required to a moistening roll moistening means during operation of the machine. but which tank is ad justable to an inoperative position for interrupting the liquid feeding action during periods of non-use of the machine for avoiding excessive loss of liquid by evaporation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a convenient mechanism for varying the level of liquid in a wick moistening trough for varying the quantity of liquid applied to the copy sheets as they pass through the machine for thus controlling the intensity of the duplicated matter imprinted on the sheets.

Other objects of the invention relate to various features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be apparent'from a consideration of the following specification and accompanying drawings wherein,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a machine which is illustrative of the present invention, the figure showing side ornamental plates or housings which enclose certain operative parts of the mechanism;

FIG. 2 is. a vertical fore-and-aft sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1, with portions of the feed table and receiving tray omitted;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational view taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1, at substantially the plane of the interior edge of the cover plate;

FIG. 4 is a broken end elevational view of a rockable fluid supply tank and a sectional View of an associated automatically operable control valve which when in the lowered position illustrated, is opened to supply fluid to a transverse fluid holding tank;

FIG. 5 is a broken elevational view of the fluid discharge end portion of the tank and of the control valve;

FIG. 6 is, a broken elevational view of the control valve shown in longitudinal section in elevated, closed position;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2, but oriented oppositely thereto, and showing the central portion thereof; this view shows a copy sheet being advanced from the feed table into the bight of a moistening and cooperating presser roll;

FIG. 8 is a top planview of the tank adjusting means shown in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 9 is, a fragmentary side elevational view oriented according to FIG. 4 but illustrating a modified means for selectively adjusting the tank between several operative positions for varying the level of the liquid in the wickmoistening trough and thus varying the quantity of fluid applied to the copy sheets.

ice

The general operation of the duplicating machine illustrated herein is set out fully in the above-mentioned patent, the application for which was the parent application to the present divisional application. Reference may be had to that patent for the description of any portion of the duplicating machine not contained herein. However, it is desired for the purpose of setting out more fully the significance of the present invention to present here a brief statement of the duplicating machine as a. whole.

The machine shown in the drawings is of the hand operable type having a crank 10 for rotating a drum 11 on which is mounted a master M for imprinting on copy sheets as they are fed through the machine. A stack of copy sheets is placed on the feed table 14 and are fed therefrom singly by means of the feed wheels 20 to a pair of rolls 18 and 19 which are respectively a moistening roll and a presser roll.

The means for applying fluid to the moistening roll 18, and certain related elements constitute the subject matter of the present invention.

The rolls 18 and 19 advance the copy sheet to the bight between the drum 11 and presser roll 22, the moistenin-g roll 18 applying moisture to the upper surface of the copy sheet in that operation. Thereafter, the drum and presser roll advance the sheet in the same direction (to the right, FIG. 2) and deposit the sheet on the receiving tray 15, an impression from the master M being made on the copy sheet in the latter step. Suitable drive is provided for driving the drum 11, the moistening roll 18, and the feed wheels 20 in appropriate portions of the cycle of operation of the machine.

Located forwardly of the roll 18 is a transverse fluid holding trough 81 as shown in FIG. 2 which is suitably attached at the ends to the side frame members 12 and 13. Extending from the trough 81 is a felt or like wick 82 of a length substantially that of the roll 18 and of a width to overlie an upper portion of the roll. The upper edge of the wick is held in suitably firm contact with the roll preferably, as by a presser plate 83 which extends transversely of the machine and at each end has an upturned ear 84 by means of which the plate is pivotally attached to the side frames 12 and 13. The opposite ends of the other edge of the plate are provided with ears 85 which are provided with studs 86 which extend into arcuate slots 87 of the side plates 12 and 13. Springs 86a engage the studs to hold the plate down upon the wick 82. This construction enables the plate to be swung up against the action of the springs 86a to release the wick when re-adjustment, or removal for cleaning or renewal becomes desirable. Before removing the wick it is necessary to remove an upper sheet guide 88 which normally cooperates with the lower guide 72 in directing the forward ends of copy sheets to the bight of rolls 18 and 19 as the sheet are advanced, as above described, by the feed wheels 20.

The guide 88, in the form illustrated as in FIGS. 2 and 7, is of sheet metal and at the ends is provided with leaf springs 89 having depressions 90 which engage studs 91 projecting inwardly from the frame members to hold the guide in operative position. The lower edge of the guide is provided with end recesses to engage studs 92 located at the ends of the forward edge of the guide 72, intervening spacer members 93 at the ends effecting the spacing apart of the adjacent edges of the guides between which the copy sheets pass. It will be seen that by pulling back on the upper portion of the guide 88 to release the springs 89 from the studs 91, the guide can be lifted from the studs 92 and removed, thereby rendering access to the presser plate 83 for releasing the wick 82 for adjustment or removal.

The upper guide 88 has a depending, transversely extending wing section 94 which carries a second Wick 95 held in position by a clip 96:: and a lower forwardly turned lower edge of the wing 94. The wick or wiper 9S bears against the roll 18 and distributes or spreads the liquid on the roll picked up thereby by contact with the wick 82. A wiper wick 81a attached to the tank 81 is shown in FIG. 7 for removing lint from roll 18.

Fluid is supplied to the trough 81 through a horizontal duct 96 extending from one end of the trough through the side frame member 12 to a cup or receptacle 97 secured to the outer face of the frame member. Into the cup 97 fluid is released from a fluid holding tank 98 for maintaining a selected fluid level in the trough while the machine is in an operable condition or in use, the tank being arcuately adjustable to an inoperable position to avoid needless replenishment of fluid in the trough during periods of non-use of the machine. As shown in FIG. 7, the tank 98, is disposed horizontally and transversely of the machine above the sheet guide 88, and is mounted at the ends for rotative movement to and from a fluid feeding position. In FIGS. 4 and one end of the tank is shown extending through an opening in the frame member 12 and at said end is provided with gravity feed means comprising a connector member 99 through which fluid from the tank can flow into a tubu lar section 100 and thence into a valve chamber memher 101. The lower end of the member 101 has a fluid outlet passage 102 and a surrounding valve seat 103. A ball valve 104 in the chamber is secured on a valve stem 105 which extends through a diametrical passage in the ball. The lower portion of the stem 105 below the ball valve projects through the outlet opening 102 and in contacting the base of the cup 97, will lift the ball from the seat to permit the flow of fluid into the cup. On the upper portion of the valve stem 105, above the ball valve, is a compression spring 106, the lower end of which seats on the ball and the upper end of which is centered in the member 101 by suitable means, as the head of a rivet 107 in the cap 108 of the member 101. The rivet secures a brace 109 to the fluid discharge structure to rigidify it, the other end of the brace being attached to the tank 98. The stem 105 is of such length that when the tank 98 is rocked clockwise to the position shown in FIG. 4, the stem 105 engages the bottom of the cup 97 and unseats the valve against the action of the spring 106 whereby fluid from the tank can flow into the cup and from the cup through the duct 96 into the trough 81. The flow of fluid from the tank will be interrupted when the fluid in the tank and cup cover the discharge opening 102. As the fluid in the trough 81 is consumed in use or by evaporation, the level of fluid in the trough is restored by automatic discharge from the tank while the tank is in the position shown in FIG. 4. Upon counterclockwise rotation of the tank from the position shown in FIG. 4 toward an inoperative position, the spring 106 will close the valve to prevent evaporation of fluid from the tank until the tank is returned to the operative position shown in FIG. 4

As stated, the tank is mounted for limited pivotal movement on its longitudinal axis. At the side of the machine shown in FIG. 4 the tank is pivotally supported by an axial stud 110 supported by a bracket 111 which is secured to the outer face of the frame member 12, the stud extending into a bushing secured to the end wall of the tank. The tank at the other end is supported by a similar and counterpart mounting arrangement. The tank is thus rockable about the longitudinal axis on the pivot 110 and the corresponding pivot at the opposite end.

For the purpose of facilitating the movement of the tank between the operative fluid delivering position shown in FIG. 4 to an inoperative position wherein the valve is in the position shown in FIG. 6, the end of the tank shown in FIG. 4 has a radially extending arm or bracket 115 which carries a stud 116 extending inwardly of the machine through an arcuate passage 117 in the frame member 12 and has a finger piece 118 thereon whereby when the side frames 12 and 13 of the machine carry the ornamental casing members 12a and 13a as shown in FIG. 1, the tank 98 can be operated conveniently. The finger piece 118 is indicated in FIG. 4.

When the tank is in the operative position shown in FIG. 4 the bracket is adapted to abut an adjustment screw 119 carried by a bracket 120 secured to the outer face of the frame member 12. By adjustment of the screw the operative position of the tank can be varied for raising or lowering the level of fluid in the trough. By raising the fluid level in the trough the wick 82 will apply more liquid to the roller 18 and thence to the copy sheets. In FIGS. 8 and 9 a more convenient mechanism for adjusting the tank for varying the level of fluid in the trough is shown and will be later described.

A helical spring 121 is shown in FIG. 4 which is attached at one end to bracket 111 as by a stud 122 and to a lateral projection 123 of the bracket 109. The tension line of the spring between the points of attachment of the ends of the spring is below the pivotal axis of the tank when the latter is in the operative position shown in FIG. 4 and hence tends to hold the tank in the operative position. As the tank is being manually rotated toward the inoperative position for the purpose of shuting ofi the feed of fluid to the trough, at the position where the projection 123 passes counterclockwise to a position above a straight line through the pivotal axis of the tank and the stud 122 at the other end of the spring 121, the spring acts to continue the counterclockwise movement of the tank until the stud 116 seats at the other end of the slot 117. The structure described constitutes a quick snap-over mechanism which tends to hold the tank in the operative position of FIG. 4 or the fully inoperative position suggested by FIG. 6. By simply swinging the finger piece 118 arcuately as described, the flow of fluid from the tank to the trough is prevented and the fluid in the tank is conserved against evaporation during periods of non-use of the machine.

The tank 98 which is formed primarily of brass or other noncorrosive metal is provided with a filler opening normally closed by a screw cap 124 (see FIG. 1). The tank also preferably is so constructed as to provide one or more sight openings which reveal visually the amount of fluid remaining in the tank for the convenience of the operator and so reduces the chance that the fluid in the tank will become exhausted during use of the machine. One sight opening is indicated by the numeral 125 and is formed by providing an opening in the cylindrical wall of the metal tank. A glass cup-like receptacle 126 is inserted in the corresponding end of the tank with the side wall of the receptacle extending over the sight opening or openings. The receptacle is cemented in place within the tank to prevent leakage, the bottom of the receptacle being disposed inwardly of the adjacent metal end wall 114 of the tank which is secured in place, as by solder, following the insertion and cementing of the receptacle.

As described fully in the above-mentioned patent, means is provided for varying the pressure of the rolls 19 and 22 against the respective moistening roll 18 and drum 11. This means in the present illustration includes (see FIGS. 2 and 7) arms 128 and 130 at opposite sides of the machine supporting the presser roll 19 and pivoted eccentn'cally at 128, 129. Similarly, the impression roll 122 is supported in the arms 132 and 133 pivoted eccentrically at 134, 135. These two sets of supporting members are interconnected as by a spring 136 and the assembly including these two sets are adjustably rockable on the respective axes by an adjusting means which includes a cable 140 and eccentric 139 mounted on the shaft 138. The shaft may be arranged for manual adjusting movements by means not shown herein but which includes a finger piece 154 (FIG. 2) movable in slot 155.

FIGURES 8 and 9 show structure which can conveniently be operated for elfecting the arcuate adjustment of the tank 98 for varying the elevation of the discharge outlet 102 of the valve chamber 101 within the cup 97 for varying the, level of fluid within the trough and thus varying the amount of liquid supplied by the Wick 82 to the moistening roll 18 and by the latter the amount applied to the sheets of copy paper passing through the machine. In said figures there is shown a slidable bar 192 which is attached by the headed studs 193 to the inner surface of the frame member 12. A spring 194, attached at one end to one of the studs 193 and at the other end to a stud 195 projecting from the bar inwardly ofthe machine, slides the bar to the right into contact with a rotatable stop member 196 mounted on a shank 197 journalled in the side member 12.. The outer end of the shank is provided with a wheel or knob 198 by means of which the member 196 can be adjusted to move any of the several depressions or recesses 199 of the edge into operative relation with the "adjacent end of the bar 192 which is shaped to seat in any of the recesses. The scalloped edge of the stop member 196 is eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation and hence by adjusting the knob to move any recess 199 into contact with the end of the bar, the latter will be adjusted to the right by the spring or to the left by the eccentric, depending on the radial distance of the receiving recess from its axis of rotation.

The opposed end of the bar 192 which is turned inward of the machine carries a screw 119 such as referred to above and accompanying nut, the end of the screw abutting the ear or bracket 115 of the tank, By adjusting the knob 198 from a given position, the bar 192 can be shifted by the cam 196 to the left or the latter will permit the spring 194 to shift the bar to the right and so move the end of screw 200 to the left or right for varying the fluid discharge position of the tank. By adjusting the cam 196 to shift the bar 192 the maximum distance to the left as viewed in FIG. 8, the valve chamber 101 will be in the highest operating position within the cup and the flow of fluid into the trough will not be shut olf until the level in the trough is approximately at the top of the duct 96. With the fluid in the trough at such high level, the wick can supply more fluid to the roll 18 than will be the case if the cam 196 is adjusted to the position wherein the bar 192 is shifted the maximum distance to the right wherein the level of liquid in the trough will be at a lower level. Different fluid levels in the trough are indicated in FIG. 4.

Preferably the knob 198 and the adjacent portion of the frame member 12 bear indicia to indicate the positions of the knob which provide high, low and intermediate levels of liquid in the trough.

While the improvements shown in the drawings and above described are illustrative of the invention, it will be apparent that various changes in details thereof may be made without departure from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A duplicating machine provided with a horizontal wick-moistening trough, a fluid receiving cup communicating with the trough, a tank at an elevation above the trough for holding a supply of wick-moistening fluid and rockable about a horizontal axis, a fluid delivery duct extending from the tank and having a nozzle at the free end adapted to be moved vertically into and from the cup by rocking movement of the tank, between a lower fluid-feeding position and an upper non-feeding position, said nozzle having a discharge opening at an end thereof, a spring seated valve closing member within the nozzle provided with a stem protruding through said opening for unseating the valve closing member and releasing fluid to the cup upon valve unseating contact thereof with the cup as the nozzle is swung downwardly into V 6 s the cup, the discharge opening of said nozzle being op erative for controlling the level of fluid in said cup, and means comprising a manually operable member for effecting arcuate adjustment of the tank in fluid-feeding position thereof and consequently varying the elevation of said discharge opening within the cup for limiting the level of the fluid discharged to the cup electively to any of a plurality of levels within a predetermined range.

2. In a duplicating machine, means for feeding sheets along a predetermined path therethrough, and means for applying moisture to the sheets comprising a roll engaging the sheets, a trough, a wick having a lower end in the trough and for an upper end engaging the roll, and means for supplying liquid to the trough and manually settable to diiferent stable positions automatically maintaining the level thereof at any of a plurality of selected levels.

3. In a duplicating machine, means for feeding sheets along a predetermined path therethrough, and means for applying moisture to the sheets comprising a roll engaging the sheets, a trough, a wick having a lower end in the trough and an upper end engaging the roll, a supply tank for liquid mounted for movement between a position for feeding liquid to the trough and a non-feeding position, valve means automatically opened in response to movement of the tank to feeding position, the parts being so dimensioned and arranged that the flow of liquid from the tank to the trough is controlled by the level of the liquid in the trough, and means for adjusting the tank when in feeding position for variously and stably positioning it in such feeding position for controlling the level of the liquid in the trough and maintaining it selectively at any of a plurality of levels.

4. In a duplicating machine, means for feeding sheets along a predetermined path therethrough, and means for applying moisture to the sheets comprising a roll engaging the sheets, a trough, a wick having a lower end in the trough and an upper end engaging the roll, a supply tank for liquid mounted for movement between a position for feeding liquid to the trough and a non-feeding position, valve means automatically opened in response to movement of the tank to feeding position, the parts being so dimensioned and arranged that the flow of liquid from the tank to the trough is controlled by the level of the liquid in the trough, means for adjusting the tank when in feeding position for variously positioning it in such feeding position for controlling the level of the liquid in the trough and maintaining it selectively at any of a plurality of levels, said last named means comprising rotatable cam means, a connection between the cam means and tank, the cam means being operable on rotation thereof for moving the tank in a first direction, means coacting between the cam. means and connection for releasably retaining them in any of a plurality of relative positions, and yielding means biasing the tank in the 0pposite direction.

5. In a duplicating machine, means for feeding sheets along a predetermined path therethrough, and means for applying moisture to the sheets comprising a roll engaging the sheets, a trough, a wick having a lower end in the trough and an upper end engaging the roll, a supply tank for liquid mounted for movement between a position for feeding liquid to the trough and a non feeding position, valve means automatically opened in response to movement of the tank to feeding position, the parts being so dimensioned and arranged that the flow of liquid from the tank to the trough is controlled by the level of the liquid in the trough, over-center means for yieldingly retaining the tank in the one of its two positions it happens to be in, and means for adjustably moving the tank when in feeding position for variously positioning it in such feeding position, against the action of said over-center means, for controlling the level of the liquid in the 7 trough and maintaining it selectively at any of a plurality of levels.

6. A duplicating machine comprising a frame having side plates, means for feeding sheets through the machine including a transverse moistening roll journalled in the side plates, a transverse trough mounted on the side plates adjacent the moistening roll, means for supplying liquid to the trough and for maintaining the level of liquid selectively at any of a plurality of levels, a resilient capillary Wick having a lower end portion loosely and freely disposed in the trough and an upper end portion engaging the moistening roll, a presser plate separate from the trough mounted for movement between a first position in engagement with the said upper end of the wick for retaining the wick in firm liquid-transfer engagement with the roll and a second position spaced therefrom enabling withdrawal of the wick from the trough and from the machine, and spring means yieldingly biasing the presser plate to the first position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Burnett Mar. 13, 1883 Storck Apr. 17, 1936 Storck et al. Feb. 2, 1937 Benello June 6, 1939 Trueman et al Sept. 5, 1939 Crowell Oct. 24, 1939 Rockhill Feb. 3, 1942 Kocher Oct. 19, 1943 Levenhagen et al. Mar. 22, 1950 Emery May 13, 1950 Henson Nov. 4, 1950 Levin et al Dec. 8, 1953 Ford et al Oct. 26, 1954 Robinson et al. July 17, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Mar. 15, 1912 Great Britain Aug. 11, 1941 

